Tensions mount as Turkey seeks to send troops to Gaza, Israel says 'no Turkish boots on the ground'

A war of words between Turkey and Israel has escalated as plans are in the works for an International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza that would remain for at least two years, under President Donald Trump’s peace plan. 

Stage one of the peace plan occurred with the exchange of the 20 remaining live Israeli hostages being held by Hamas for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel, including about 250 life prisoners and about 1,700 who had been captured since the war started on October 7, 2023, with Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel. The attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and 251 people taken hostage. The other part of stage one was the ceasefire, which has been fragile at best.

The next stage of the peace plan has proven problematic, as Hamas has so far refused to give up its weapons and control over Gaza. 

Turkey is reportedly planning to send thousands of soldiers to Gaza as part of the ISF, though both the U.S. and Israel are resisting that effort. Based on the Trump administration’s proposed resolution sent to the United Nations Security Council, the ISF would oversee the Gaza ceasefire, the disarming of Hamas, and the humanitarian relief effort. 

But Israel has been clear that no Turkish troops would be allowed to enter Gaza. “There will be no Turkish boots on the ground,” a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a press conference, according to Algemeiner.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly praised Hamas. Just this week, the Turkish government issued arrest warrants for 37 Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, accusing them of “genocide” in Gaza.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz blasted the accusations, calling them “ridiculous.”

“Take those ridiculous arrest warrants and get the hell out of here,” he said in a post on X. “They’re more fitting for the massacres you’ve committed against the Kurds. Israel is strong and unafraid. You’ll only be able to see Gaza through binoculars.”